Anywhere from 8 to 16 inches of snow is expected along the Front Range and Eastern Plains and up to two feet of snow is expected in the mountains, he said.

The snow is expected to start falling late Friday, Lewis said.

Travelers are urged to check for updated forecasts as the storm evolves, and Denver International Airport is advising travelers flying this weekend to check their flight's status with their airline or at flydenver.com.

Nezette Rydell, meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Boulder, said the storm will help the drought-stricken state.

"It's not going to get us out of the drought," she said. "It will take a number of these storms to get out of the drought, but every one will help."

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She said the storm is moving fast enough that it will not radically change temperatures in the long run.

By Sunday temperatures in the metro area are expected to rise to the low 40s, and by Wednesday temperatures will be in the 60s.

"The melt-off will start by Sunday," Rydell said. "It's going to be lovely."

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